The Nordic countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to intensify the cross-border cooperation and enhance their transport sector to be able to face crisis challenges.
Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark and also Iceland signed the Nordic Transport Preparedness Cooperation (NTPC) agreement to improve the resilience within the transport system and to ensure air, rail, sea and road transport can better manage transport needs in a crisis and, in the worst case, war.
“Together with the other authorities in the transport sector, the Swedish Transport Administration is taking another step to strengthen Nordic preparedness. We are deepening and expanding our cooperation within transport preparedness, which is of utmost importance. Through this cooperation, we are creating the conditions for both military and civilian mobility in all types of crises and even during war,” the Swedish Transport Administration’s Director General Roberto Maiorana, said.
The countries will cooperate in the transport sector to prevent, limit and manage the consequences that may result from major accidents, natural disasters and other societal crises, in the extreme case war.
Finland and Sweden have had cooperation on transport preparedness for many years and now, this cooperation is being expanded to include Norway and Denmark. The backdrop for the new cooperation is the worsening geopolitical situation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO.
“The Nordic countries share common threats, risks and vulnerabilities, and our transport systems connect us. I expect this collaboration to provide us with real value and strengthen our transport preparedness going forward,” the CEO of Bane Nor, Thor Gjermund Eriksen, said.
Under the agreement, Finland is leading the collaboration, while Norway is the deputy leader.
“The railways have an important role in both national and Nordic preparedness. We will maintain transport on the railway in all types of crises and cover both civilian and military transport needs. We look forward to cooperating even closer with our Nordic colleagues,” Otto A. Breivik, the Head of Community Safety at Bane NOR, said.
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